Bench



Jan. 21, 1930. L. w. NEWSOM 1,744,666

BENCH Filed Jan. 22, 1929 V/ZZ. if; 2.? 04 -2 /lnllll/ )2 2 3nventorLewzlsi WJfl-waom a 13 2' l q- E I attorneys:

50 line 4-4 in Figure 3, and "tatably within the bearing23.

Patented Jan. 21, 1930 I 1,744,555

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE LEWIS W. NEWSOM, F LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIABENCH Application filed January 22, 1929. Serial No. 334,217.

The present invention relates to improve- Figure 5 is a horizontalsection taken on the ments in benches, and has for an object to line 5-5also in Figure 3. provide an improved seat or bench prlma- Referringmore particularly to the drawrily designed to be used in dining alcovesings 6 and 7 designate the end pieces and 8 5 or booths in privatehomes, apartments and and 9 the backs of a double bench construc- 55restaurants. tion. Although the invention is shown in Dining alcoves asnow built are small and the drawings as applied to a double bench, onthis account difficult to get into and out it will be understood that itis equally apof and they are quite generally uncomfort plicable to asingle type of bench. 10 able to sit in. In Figure 2 the alcove table,with which 60.

It is another objectof the invention to benches of this type are usuallyassociated, provide an improved seat or bench, which is indicated at 10.The space between the will aflord ease in getting into and out of benchand table is usually very narrow. It the seat and to provide comfort forthe 00- is diificult to get into and out of this space, cupant of theseat. I and for this reason I provide a slidable A further object of theinvention resides bench seat 11. Two such bench seats are in providingan improved seat or bench conshown in Figure 2 as cooperatingrespectively structed so as to avoid imposing any serious with the twobacks 8 and 9. limitations on the architect who designs the Each benchseat or board 11 is preferably 20 benches and tables; and to provide animprovided with an identical mechanism at opproved seat or bench thatwill be devoid of posite sides thereof, the mechanism being sitthatfactory appearance, the mechanism uated beneath the bench so as to besubstanbeing almost entirely hidden from view. tially concealed. The twomechanisms are A still further object of the invention recoupled forconjoint movement by a shaft 25 sides in providing an improved slidingseat 12. This shaft is square or is provided with or bench in whichprovision is made for square end portionswhere it enters the squaresimultaneously causing both ends of the socket 13 of the pinion 14.Although it is bench to partake of thesliding movement not importantthat the shaft or socket be to avoid jamming of the parts or anydiffisquare, it is important that the pinion 14 at 30 culty in theoperation; each end of the shaft be fixed thereto so that so Vith theforegoin and other objects in the motion of one pinion shall becommuniview, the invention will be more fully de-' cated to the other.The pinion 145 is also scribed hereinafter, and will be moreparpreferably provided with a shouldered part ticularly pointed out inthe claims appended 15 for receiving the end shoulder of the shafthereto. 12 and with a tapered recess 16 for receiving In the drawings,whereinlike symbols refer the tapered tenon 17 on the end of the shaftto like or corresponding parts throughout 12. At its smaller end thetapered recess is the several views closed by an end wall or diaphragml8 and Figure 1 is a front elevation of an imbeyond thediaphragm is abendable flange proved seat constructed in accordance with 19, adaptedto be expanded, upset or riveted so the present invention. against ashoulder 20 on a plate 21 that is Figure 2 is a vertical section takensubstanaffixed as by screws or other fastenings 22 tially centrallytherethrough, with one of the to the end pieces of the furniture.benches in the retracted, and the other in the The plate is formed witha substantially extended position. cylindrical bearing 23 extending outfrom Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary secthe furniture end piece andacting as a beartion taken through a portion of one of the ing for thepinion 14, said pinion having a benches with the seat retired.cylindricalportion external of the recess 16 Figure 4 is a verticalsection taken on the and diaphragm 18 for being received r0 The shoulder20 is made internally of the bearing 23 and spaced from the adjacentsurface of the end piece 6, as shown in Figure 4, leaving an annularchamber 24 in which to receive the upset rim portion of the flange 19.The end of the bearing 23 abuts against one side of the pinion M and itis disposed in substantial alinement with the socketwall 13. The end ofthe bearing 23 supports the pinion at one side and the shouldered end 15of the shaft 12 supports the pinion at the opposite side. Moreover, theengagement of the socket 13 and recess 16 form elongated bearingsurfaces for the pinion which will prevent any sidewise motion orwabbling thereof. 1 ej Each pinion ll is arranged to engage rack teetliThese teeth are carried by the rack bar 26 having the clown-turned rib27 at one side thereof between the pinion 14 and the plate 21. The rackbar 26 is carried by a flange 28 depending from one side of a bar 29which fits against the underside of the bench board 11 at or near eachend thereof.

As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the rack bar assembly, including the rib27, flange 28 and bar 29, is secured to the bench by the screws or otherfastenings 30, which pass through bosses 31 on the end portions of therack bar assembly.

The rack bar assembly, as shown in Figure 5, is also provided with theend stops 32 projecting across the space between the bars 26 and 29 andthe flange 28. This space is open at the side adjacent the end piece ofthe furniture to receive the guide flange 33 projecting from the upperedge of the plate 21 and entering between the bars 26 and 29. Thisflange has an extended bearing on the bars, and it will insure theproper support for the bench 11 in its sliding movement and will avoidthe weight from devolving upon the teeth of the pinion 14 and the rackteeth 25.

In the operation of the device, the seat 11 is simply pushed back andforth to the positions shown in full and dotted lines in Fig ure 2. henthe seat 11 occupies the dotted line position in Figure 2, or the fullline posit-ion, shown for the seat at the right, then the seat isretired out of the way and it does not obstruct the small space betweenthe bench and the table 10, but leaves this space open and free for theoccupant to walk into and out of in going to and leaving a place at thetable. Once the occupant has arrived opposite the assigned place at thetable the bench 11 is simply pulled out to the full line position, shownfor the left seat in Figure 2, whereupon ample seating room is affordedand a comfortable seat provided.

In moving, the seat 11 will be supported mainly po t tationary fi edflange .3 o the plate 21 which may be made substantial for this purpose-This will avoid undue wear on the teeth of the pinion and rack and itwill constantly keep the teeth in good condition so that they will notbe apt to jam.

end of the seat through the shaft 12. Any

canting of the seat or movement of one end relative to the other will bethus avoided and the easy sliding movement of the seat at all times willbe assured. The construction of the parts will allow for easymanufacture and ready assembly. The rib 27 will keep the parts of theunit from coming apart after the pivot portion 19 is riveted in thebearing.

It is obvious that various changes and modifications may be made in thedetails of construction and design of the above specifically describedembodiment of this invention without departing from the spirit thereof,such changes and modifications being restricted only by the scope of thefollowing claims.

Vhat is claimed is 1. In a bench, a sliding seat, a rack bar assemblyaflixed to said seat and having a space therein, a plate secured to thebench and having a guide flange entering said space, a hollow bearingprojecting out from said plate and having a space and a shoulder at itsinner portion, a pinion meshing with said rack bar and having a socketat one side and a bearing portion at the opposite side with a flangeadapted to be over-turned against the shoulder of said bearing, and ashaft fitted in said socket of the pinion.

2. In a bench, a slidable seat, a rack bar assembly secured to each endof the seat and having a space, a fixed plate on each end of the benchhaving a. guide flange for entering the space in the rack bar assembly,said plate also having a hollow bearing extending outwardly therefromwith an internal annular space and a shoulder, a pinion meshing with theteeth of said rack bar and having a socket at one side and a reducedcylindrical bearing at the opposite side for fitting within said platebearing, said plate bearing engaging the side .of the pinion oppositethe socket, said pinion also having a shoulder and having an internaltapered recess within said bearing, a diaphragm closing said recess, anupsettable flange beyond said diaphragm, and a shaft fitted in saidpinion socket with a reduced tenion fitting in the recess.

LEWIS NEWSOM.

